Necticut



May 30, 1933. M. SMALL 1,911,588

ADVERT I 51 NC: 5 IGN Filed Feb. 4, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 as! My May 30, 1933- M. SMALL ADVERTISING SIGN Filed Feb, 4, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 30, 1933. M. SMALL 1,911,588

ADVERTISING SIGN Filed Feb. 4, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 30, 1933. M. SMALL ADVERTISING SIGN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 4. 1953 Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTIOFFICE MILTON SMALL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO ILLUSTRATED CURRENT NEWS, INCORPORATED, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- ADVERTISING SIGN- Application area February 4, 193's. Serial No. 655,165.

This invention relates to advertising signs, and more particularly to signs of the type in which an endless band carrying advertising matter is moved longitudinally back ofa suitable casing aperture by means of a motor device.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an nnproved advertislng sign of relatively simple and inexpenslve construction adapted to be operated by an electric motor with a very slight consumption of electric current and well suited for use in store win- (lows and similar locations where it is-desired to attract attention by the motion of the sign and by the change which is continually taking place in the advertising or other matter being exhibited by the sign. Myv improved device may, if desired, be used in store windows in association with news photographs, for example, so as to attract the attention of passersby.

Another object of my invention is to produce an advertising sign of the endless band type in which the band can be constituted of paper or other fragile material so that the band will be of an inexpensive character and so that a very small amount of current will be consumed in driving it.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an advertising sign embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is .a top plan view of the device with the cover removed showing the endless band and the provisions for propelling the same;

Fig. 2 shows on a larger scale certain parts illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of another portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 3';

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a further end view of the mechanism looking from the opposite end;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section on line 5 5 of Fig. 5*;

Fig. 6'is a bottom planjview of the mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on line 77 of Fig. 3;

Fig. .8 is a detail section of a portion of one of the band-supporting spools; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the driving spool and its associated driving mechanism.

In its general features my improved advertising sign as illustrated herein comprises a casing having an elongated aperture in one face through which is visible a portion of a flexible endless band carrying suitable advertising matter, said band being propelled by a small electric motor located within the casing and connected with one of the spools about which the band travels; Within the casing is an elongated base frame attached to the casing in an appropriate manner and having at the corners thereof spools whose axes are vertically disposed. Within the lateral. limits of the supporting frame is an additional spool which I utilize as the driving spool, said driving spool being adapted to engage a bight of the band traveling about the other spools. The driving spool is preferably mounted above a suitable cross-member of the frame, and below the cross-member is the electric motor by means of which the driving spool is'driven.

In the drawings, the casing is shown at 10 and this casing has the elongated window 11 in its front face and is provided at the top with a suitable cover 12. In Fig. 2the cover 12 is omitted so as to disclose the mechanism mounted within the casing. The endless band is shown at 13, and it will be observed that this band passes about four vertical spools 14, 1 5, 16 and 17 located at the corners of the elongated base frame 18.

The cross-member of the base frame, hereinranged parallel to each other and inter-connected at appropriate points by suitable cross-members. In the articular case illustrated the base has a side bar 22 arran ed at the front of the casing and having 0 set end extensions 23 provided with perforations 24 for the assage of screws 25 by means of which t is bar is attached at its extremities to the front wall of the casing 10. The other side bar of frame 18 is indicated at 26. Bars 26 and 22 are interconnected at their ends by metal cross-bars 27 and 28. Each of the bars 27 and 28 is preferably of inverted U shape having downturned end portions thereon, and the bar is arranged to straddle the longitudinal bars 22, 26 and is suitably secured thereto to form a rigid connection, as by riveting, for-example. Intermediate the end bars 27, 28 but in a location considerably nearer the end bar 27 than the end bar 28 is the cross-member 19, previously mentioned, which is preferably constituted as a metal bar made of U shape so that it straddles the longitudinal members. The end portions of the cross-bar 19 are removably secured to the longitudinal members by means such as screws 29.

Suitably secured to the upper faces of the corresponding end bars at three corners of the frame are stationary holders 30, 31 and 32 for the spools 14, 15 and 16, previously mentioned. These holders are preferably constituted by metal bars or strips bent into U shape. The Us formed by these bars rest on their sides on the end bars, and between the arms of these Us the band-guiding spools are journaled.

The remaining corner spool 17 has a movable mounting with respect to the other spools so that slack in the band 13 can be readily taken up, and for this purpose a- U-shaped holder 33 similar to the other spool holders is clamped between metal bars 34, 35 which are pivotally mounted at their opposite ends on an axis corresponding with the axis of the spool 14. The lower arm 35 is mounted immediately above the lower arm of spool holder 30, and the upper arm 34 is mounted immediately above the upper arm of the holder 30. Each of the corner spools preferably comprises a hollow tubular body 36 of suitable material having end heads 37 swaged in the end openings of the body and provided with integral flanges 38 at the ends of the spool, which flanges 38'serve to prevent the band from running off the spool. Each spool head 37 has a central opening 39 therein and in this opening is swaged a suitable bushing 40, usually-made of metal. This bushing 40 has a central bore engaged by a metal spindle member 41 having near the ends thereof ribs 42 driven into and interlocked with the bushing 40. Beyond the ends of the spool the spindle 41 is provided with projecting conical extremities 43. These conical extremities of the spool spindle are adapted to engage means supported in the arms of the U-sha ed holders for journaling the spools in t e holders, and in the particular form shown the lower ends of the spools are journaled in cup ed bearing members 44 of suitable metal t at are secured to the lower arms of the holders, and the lower arm 35 forming part of the swinging mounting for the spool 17 has an opening by which it fits around the bearing member 44 of spool holder 30 so that it is in pivotal relation thereto.

The lower conical end of each spool spindle engages a conical seat in the corresponding bearing member 44. The upper conical end of the spool spindle is engaged by a conical seat formed at the lower end of a threaded shank 45 whose threads engage the threads of an opening in the upper arm of the spool holder so that the shank 45 can be adjusted longitudinally with reference to the holder and spool. After the shank 45 has been adjusted it can be held in the adjusted position by a nut 46 engaging the same above the holder arm.

The swinging arm 34, previously mentioned, is provided at its pivoted end with an opening fitting around a small sleeve 47 passing through the upper arm of holder 30, and the clamping nut 46 (Fig. 5 is adapted to abut against the top of this sleeve. Thus the threaded shank 45 can be clamped firmly in position without binding of the arm 34. A iece of spring wire 47 is wound around tie lower bearing 44 of spool 14 and reacts against the holder 30 at one end, as shown at 47*, while the opposite end of the spring is carried over and against the lower bearing 44 of spool 17, as shown at 47. The action of this spring is to urge the arms 34, 35 and the spool 17 carried thereby to the left with respect to Fig. 2, so as to maintain the band 13 under the requisite tension.

To the lower surface of the cross-bar 19 is applied by screws 48 the upper plate 49 of an electric induction motor, said motor also having a lower plate 50 connected to the upper plate by spacing posts 51, 52 and 53. Carried on the spacing posts 52, 53 intermediate of their height is a field core 54, said core having a winding 55 disposed on the laminated arm portion 56 interconnecting the arm portions at the sides of the core. Between the poles of the core is an armature 57 having a shaft 58 mounted in a step bearing 59 in the lower mounting plate 50. At its upper end the armature shaft has a bearing 60 in the mounting plate 49. Below the plate 49 the armature shaft has a pinion 61 fixed thereto meshing with a large gear 62 fixed on a shaft 63 adapted to drive the spool 20, previously mentioned. This spool 20 is mounted in a holder 64 formed of a metal bar having one end turned in one direction and'the other end turned in the opposite direction. One end of this holder is secured by a small bolt 65 to the upper face of mounting plate 49. The opposite end of this holder 64 has a threaded shank 66 engaging a threaded hole 67 therein. The lower end of the shaft 63, is,rounded and it rests in a step bearing 68 in the mounting plate 50. From the large gear 62 the. shaft. 63 projects upwardly through an opening 69 in plate 49 and into and through spool 20, the upper end of said shaft projecting out of the spool at the top and being of conical formation and engaging a conical seat in the adjustable threaded shank 66. The spool 20 is of substantially the same structure as the other spools at the interior thereof and the shaft 63 has ribbed or splined portions which engage the bushings 40 in the end heads of this spool.

Exteriorly the spool 20 is somewhat different from the other spools inasmuch as it is provided with a suitable roughened bandgripping surface such as provided by a covering 70 of rubber having fine ribs therein. By this means the spool obtains a better rip on the band which is propelled thereby. Treferably the band 13 is made of paper, in which case the advertising legends or slogans may be painted thereon. The use of paper for the band material provides a very inexpensive and light-weight band which requires very little power for the propulsion of the same. This is especiall true in the construction herein described: in which the spools turn in their bearings with a minimum amount of friction, and such a small amount of power is required for propelling the band that a small electric motor such as herein illustrated and described and which is very economical in the use of current fulfills all requirements.

The operation of the mechanism above described will be obvious without detailed description. It will be apparent that the armature shaft of the motor will be continuously rotated at a moderately fast speed, as usual in electric clock motors, for example, and that by the gearing described, this motion will be converted into a slower motion of the driving spool 20. The driving spool has the large gear wheel mounted directly on its shaft, and there is, therefore, a minimum loss of driving power between the motor and the driving spool. This driving spool is provided with a surface of such a character that it effectively grips the endless band and propels it in such a direction that that portion of the band visible in the window of the casing travels from right to left at a suitable speed. The pivotal mounting of the s 001 17 brought about by the employment 0 the arms 34, 35 and the employment of a suitable spring acting on the pivoted spool permits the band to be maintained at all times under a tension suitable for the requirements.

As before stated, the drive from the motor to the driving spool is very direct, and urthermore, the motor is located in a convenient position within the lines of the frame so that it is portable with the frame and forms a component part thereof. The motor does not interfere with accessibility to the endless band and other parts of the apparatus and is sustained by a cross-member which serves not only as a motor support but as a substantial reinforcement for i238 base frame on which the band is mounte If desired, the casing 10 or a casing of generally similar character may be used as part of a panel in which news pictures are exhibited.

Devices of the kind herein described are admirably adapted for use in store windows.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe the various modifications which ma be made in the detailed structure of the ad vertising sign without digressing from the principles of my invention. I have illustrated a preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that various structural changes may be made without departure from my invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an advertising sign, the combination of an elongated base frame, vertically disposed rotatable spools located adjacent the respective corners of the base frame and projecting upwardly therefrom, a further vertically disposed spool located within the margins of the base frame above the same, an endless band extending about the spools and adapted to be progressed by drive of the last-named spool, said last-named spool being disposed in a bight of the endless band, and means disposed within the base frame directly underneath said last-named spool for driving said spool and thus propelling the band.

2. In an advertising sign, the combination of an elongated base frame, vertically disposed rotatable spools located adjacent the respective corners of the base frame and projecting upwardly therefrom, a further vertically disposed spool located within the margins of the base frame above the same, an endless band extending about the spools and adapted to be progressed by drive of the last-named spool, said last-named spool being disposed in a bight of the endless band. and means disposed withinthe base frame directly underneath said last-named spool for driving said spool and thus propelling the band, said means comprising an electric motor having an armature rotating in a horizontal plane and operatively connected with the driving spool.

3. In an advertising sign, the combination of an elongated base frame, vertically disposed rotatable spools located adjacent the respective corners of the baseframe and projecting upwardly therefrom, a further verti cally disposed spool located Within the margins of the base frame above the same, an endless band extending about the spools and adapted to be progressed'by drive of the last-named spool, said last-named spool being disposed in a bight of the endless band, and means disposed within the base frame directly underneath said last-named s 001 for driving said spool and thus propel ing the band, said means comprising an electric motor having an armature rotating in a horizontal plane and operatively connected with the driving spool, said motor comprising in its construction spaced parallel mounting plates and means for securing the upper mounting plate of the motor to the base frame.

4. In an advertising sign, the combination of an elongated base frame comprising parallel side bars-and cross-bars interconnecting said side bars at the ends of the frame, a further cross-bar interconnecting the side bars intermediate of the ends of the frame, vertically arranged spools adjacent the corners of the base frame located above the cross bars at the ends of the frame, a further vertically arranged spool located above the intermediate cross-bar, an endless band reeved about said spools and having a bi ght portion in which the last-named spool is located, a driving motor attached to the base frame beneath the intermediate cross-bar, and means for connecting said last-named spool with said motor so that it is driven thereby.

5. In an advertising sign, the combination of an elongated base frame comprising parallel side bars and cross-bars interconnecting said side bars at the ends of the frame, a further cross-bar interconnecting the side bars intermediate of the ends of the frame, vertically arranged spools adjacent the corners of the base frame located above the cross-bars at'the .ends of the frame, a further vertically arranged spool located above the intermediate cross-bar, an endless band reeved about said spools and having a bight portion in which the last-named spool is located, a driving motor attached to the baseframe beneath the intermediate crossbar, and means for connecting said lastnamed spool with said motor so that it is driven thereby, said last-named means comprising a spindle fixed to and projecting downwardly from said spool, a gear fixed to the lower end portion of said spindle, and a pinion on the motor shaft engaging said gear.

6. In an advertising sign, a base frame comprising side bars arranged in parallel relation, cross-bars interconnecting said side bars at the ends of the frame, a cross-bar interconnecting said side bars-intermediate of the ends of the frame and located nearer one end of the frame than the other end, an electric motor comprising a field core, field winding, armature, and armature shaft, said armature shaft being vertically disposed, a pair of mounting plates between which said armature shaft is journaled, means for securing the upper mounting plate to said intermediate cross-bar, a pinion on the armature shaft, a spindle having a bearing in the lower mounting plate and projecting upwardly beyond the intermediate cross-bar, a s 001 carried by said spindle above said crossar, a gear on said spindle engaging said pinion so that the spool is driven from the. motor at decreased speed, other spools located on the base frame, and an endless band reeved around said spools and driven by the rotation of the first spool.

7. In an advertising sign, an electric motor comprising upper and lower mounting plates, posts interconnecting and spacing said plates, afield core supported by certain of said posts between said plates, a winding on said field core, an armature, an armature shaft journaled between said mounting plates, a drive shaft disposed between said mounting plates parallel to the armature shaft and geared to the armature shaft, said drive shaft projecting up through and beyond the upper mounting plate, a spool mounted on the upper portion of the drive shaft and fixed to the drive shaft to rotate therewith, an endless band engaging said spool to be propelled thereby, and other spools engaging other portions of the. band to support the same.

8. In an advertising sign, an electric motor comprising upper and lower mounting plates, said motor having an arma ture shaft journaled between said plates, a shaft having a portion disposed between the mounting plates and geared to the armature shaft, a frame in which said electric motor is mounted, said motor being located intermediate of the ends of the frame, a spool in the frame above the motor driven by said second-named shaft, an endless band engaged by said spool and propelled thereby, and other spools on the frame engaging the band at other portions thereof.

9. In an advertising sign, an elongated base frame having parallel side members, vertically arranged spools at the corners of said frame extending upwardly therefrom a further vertically arranged spool within the lateral limits of the frame and above said frame, and means for driving the lastnamed spool comprising an electric motor set into and secured to the base frame between said side members and beneath said last-named spool, said motor having a vertically arranged armature shaft and there beis rotated at lower speed than the armature shaft.

10. In an advertising sign, the combination of an elongated base frame having a cross-{bar intermediate of its ends, vertically disposed rotatable spools located adjace'nt the respective corners of the base frame, a further vertically disposed spool located within the margins of the base frame and above said cross-bar, an endless band extending about the spools and adapted to be progressed by drive ofthe last-named spool, and means disposed within the base frame and comprising an electricmotor attached to said cross-bar beneath the same for driving said last-named spool.

11. In an advertising sign, the combination of an elongated base frame having'a cross-member disposed intermediate of the ends thereof, vertically disposed rotatable spools located adjacent the respective corners of the base frame, a further vertically disposed spool located within the-margins of the base frame and above said cross-member, an endless bandextending about the spools and adapted to be progressed by drive of the last-named spool, and means disposed within the base frame for driving said last-named spool and comprising an electric motor having a vertically disposed armature shaft and spaced mounting plates between which "said armature shaft is journaled, the upper mounting plate being connected to said cross-member.

12. In an advertising sign, the combination of an elongated base frame having a cross-member disposed intermediate of the ends thereof, vertically disposed rotatable spools located adjacent the respective corners of the base frame, a further vertically disposed spool located within the margins of the base frame and above said cross-member, an endless band extending about the spools and adapted to be progressed by drive of the last-named spool, and means disposed within the base frame for driving said lastnamed spool and comprising an electric motor having a vertically disposed armature shaft and spaced mounting plates between which said armature shaft is journaled, the upper mounting plate being connected to said cross-member, said last-named spool having a shaft projecting downwardly therefrom between said mounting plates, a gear on said shaft, and a pinion on the armature shaft meshing with said gear.

13. In an advertising sign, the combination of an elongated base frame, vertically disposed rotatable spools locatedadjacent the respective corners of the base frame and projecting upwardly therefrom, a further vertically disposed spool located within the margins of the base frame above the same,

an endless band extending about the spools and adapted to be progressed by drive of the last-named spool, an electric motor having spaced mounting plates and an armature journaled in said plates and rotating in a horizontal plane, the upper mounting plate being connected to said frame, a holder for said last-named spool secured to and extending upwardly from the upper mounting plate of said motor, and means connecting said armature shaft with said lastnamed spoolto drive the latter.

' 14. In an advertising sign, the combination of an elongated base frame having a crossbar intermediate of its ends, a vertically disposed spool located Within the mar-. gins of the base frame and above said crossbar, an endless band extending about said spool and adapted to be progressed by drive thereof, other spools supporting said band, means disposed within the base frame and comprising an electric motor for driving said first-named spool, said electric motor having horizontal mounting plates and the upper mount-ing plate being disposed beneath said cross-bar, and a holder in which said first-named spool is 'journaled at its upper end extending upwardly from the my hand this 30 day of January, 1933.

MILTON SMALL. 

